According to recent findings released by the CIPD, business-sponsored volunteering projects are helping to bring employers and young people together.
With a major national push on youth social action just around the corner, the CIPD has released its latest report: Youth social action and transitions into work. The UK has seen a lack of work experience as one of the major barriers for young job seekers; volunteering schemes backed by employers have helped to bridge this gap.
Through volunteering initiatives, young job seekers can build their teamwork and project management skills and become more acclimatised to the job market within their communities.
Additional research released by the CIPD as part of the Learning to Work programme found that many young people tend to struggle throughout the recruitment process due to deficient communication skills and work experience.
Businesses can benefit from their involvement in these youth programmes, as they can play a significant role in employee morale and long-term commitment to the company.
“There’s a mismatch between what employers want and what young people can tell them they are capable of,” explains Jennie Butterworth, chief executive at social action charity Envision. “Young people are fantastic but they don’t have the vocabulary to express their capabilities. So we also need to enable young people to become consciously competent, and employers [through volunteering] can help them to articulate the skills they do have.”
Despite recent news of economic growth throughout the UK, youth unemployment continues to be a problem due to skills shortages. There are just under one million unemployed 16- to 24-year-olds, which equates to around 20%.
According to experts, these volunteer programmes are the key to increasing job growth for the UK’s young job seekers.
volunteering schemes boost employee retention.
